Yes, some FWs can be towed with some 1/2t trucks. I've just returned from FL after putting 3000k miles on my setup. Absolutely no problems. I was parked next to a fellow with a similar setup and he said he was not overloaded, either. I did raise an eyebrow when he told me he double-towed a boat behind his FW but kept my mouth shut.

When I lower the FW on the hitch, the F150 rear end drops maybe 1-1/2" and I don't see the front end raise at all. Yet, I see numerous 250/350s traveling rear low/front high all the time, so who's more overloaded?

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Go to the Keystone Montana RV web site and look at the Cougar 1/2 ton models.

What you need to find is which trailer fits within the capabilty of your truck. And your truck DOES NOT need to be a HD model. It would certainly increase your capacity but it is not necessary if you find the right model. You will also need to get a good estimate of the trailer loaded and with any options added to make sure it will work for you. Also don't forget to figure in your hitch weight and the weight of other things you will have in your truck (your family, stuff stored in the bed). You can weigh your truck with those things in place at a truck scale to get a good starting point, have your fuel tank full when you do it. There are some easy calculations to use to figure additional tongue weight from items like propane tanks, water tanks etc.

I would be very careful of just relying on the manufacturers "1/2 ton towable" designation. In order to get the weights close to 1/2 ton towable, the manufactures will "fudge" the numbers in their favor. For the truck, they will use the max towing limits using a base model truck, no passenger, no cargo, no hitch, no accessories or options. Next they will take a pretty much base model stripped trailer. Any item listed in the brochure as an option, will not be included in the weight...like awning, A/C, microwave, batteries, etc.

This will normally work fine if you have a properly equipped truck for max towing capacity, base model, travel alone and never put anything in the trailer.

In order to know the true limits, you need real weights, not brochure weights and work out the numbers for yourself.

Depends how much you tow. There will be a slight MPG advantage to a diesel with increased towing ability. However, the slight increase in MPG will likely be a wash due to the increased prices of diesel. There is also the increased price of the diesel option. Typically around 7-9K extra when purchased new and the increased prices of maintance. These all need to be calculated for when you are buying your tow rig and how much towing will be done vs normal driving. A diesel is defiantly the way to go if you have the budget for it.

There will be a slight MPG advantage to a diesel with increased towing ability. However, the slight increase in MPG will likely be a wash due to the increased prices of diesel.

I pulled the same 13,500 lb 5th wheel with a 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 with the V-10 gas engine and a 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 with the Cummins 5.9L HO diesel. Over the same trip, the mileage was 6.5 MPG with the V-10 and 11 with the Cummins 5.9. Speed up the same long 6% grade was 55 MPH with the V-10 and an easy 65 MPH for the Cummins.

If I'm getting 69% better fuel mileage, I can certainly afford to pay 15% more for fuel, especially for much better towing performance. Here in the Houston area, there is very little market for used gas 2500 or 3500 trucks; you'll recoup just about all of what you paid for the diesel option on resale or trade-in.

I pulled the same 13,500 lb 5th wheel with a 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 with the V-10 gas engine and a 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 with the Cummins 5.9L HO diesel. Over the same trip, the mileage was 6.5 MPG with the V-10 and 11 with the Cummins 5.9. Speed up the same long 6% grade was 55 MPH with the V-10 and an easy 65 MPH for the Cummins.

If I'm getting 69% better fuel mileage, I can certainly afford to pay 15% more for fuel, especially for much better towing performance. Here in the Houston area, there is very little market for used gas 2500 or 3500 trucks; you'll recoup just about all of what you paid for the diesel option on resale or trade-in.

Rusty

Similar results with a 2010 V-10 F350 versus a 2011 6.7 diesel F350 here. Pulling the same rig on the same road, I went from 7.5 to 10.25 (hand calc).
The old was a SRW short the new DRW long.